Saints fans were treated to a record-setting performance by their quarterback, who proved his worth as the heart and soul of the team. But he also faces some harsh realities ahead this season and beyond.
The New Orleans Saints won their division, and thus did the team’s owner, Tom Benson. But this wasn’t enough to satisfy the man who bought the franchise in 1985. So he decided that keeping his head coach around was more important than winning a division championship – at least for now. What is it like to be enshrined into an NFL Hall of Fame?
The New Orleans Saints must be thanking their fortunate stars for superstar running back Alvin Kamara, who just scored a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football.
Without Kamara, where would the Saints be? On the road, in sloppy, wet circumstances, they were unlikely to defeat Seattle. It was the kind of football contest that the NFC North normally saves for December. The Saints narrowly defeated the Seahawks, 13-10.
The Saints’ 4-2 record, which puts them in the NFC South race, would more likely look far worse.
Kamara departed Monday Night Football with an unbelievable record, demonstrating one again how important he is to New Orleans.
The New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara is a record-setting running back.
During the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints scores a pass for a touchdown | Steph Chambers/Getty Images
In Seattle, the Saints only scored one touchdown, a 13-yard throw and grab from Jameis Winston to Alvin Kamara. That touchdown was crucial to the Saints’ victory, but it was everything else Kamara accomplished outside of the endzone that helped them win the game.
The Saints racked up 304 total yards of offense. 179 of those yards were accounted for by Kamara. The Seahawks did an excellent job of limiting him to 51 running yards on 20 runs, but as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, Kamara was unstoppable. Kamara was unstoppable whether he was in the flats or beneath and over the center.
He caught 10 receptions for 128 yards and the score noted before. Kamara was always there for New Orleans when they needed a huge play. He had a 12.8-yard catch average, which was more than enough to keep the sticks moving.
Kamara accomplished an incredible feat throughout the game. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Saints running back has become the quickest player in NFL history to reach 3,000 rushing and receiving yards in his 66th game. The previous record holder was San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig, who achieved it in 70 games.
Kamara is the quintessential dual-threat runner.
A college football recruiting phrase for a quarterback who can make plays with both his arm and his legs is a dual-threat quarterback. While not an official classification, a dual-threat running back is notorious for devastating defenses in a variety of ways.
The ability to receive passes out of the backfield while simultaneously being a good rusher is very unusual among running backs. It’s difficult to excel at both, but in the NFL, athletes who can rush and recieve are among the league’s most prized assets.
The Saints have a running back with tremendous vision and shiftiness in Kamara, but he also possesses wide receiver-like hands and route-running skills. Kamara is the ultimate dual-threat player, and he makes opposition defensive coordinators’ lives a living hell. The Saints will leak him out of the backfield if they shut him down on the ground. The Saints will utilize his speed to get him on the edge and in wide space if they forget he can run the ball.
Kamara has 419 yards and a score on 114 running attempts this season. He’s been outstanding as a pass-catcher, with 25 receptions for 241 yards and four touchdowns.
Kamara is exactly what the Saints need.
The New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara #41 rushes with the ball during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff against the Chicago Bears | Chris Graythen/Getty Images
With Drew Brees enjoying his retirement and yacking it up on television these days, Kamara bears the brunt of the Saints’ celebrity status.
Winston was the first overall choice in the 2015 NFL Draft, but his shine has waned over time. He’s still entertaining to watch, but he’s not exactly an attraction for the city of New Orleans. Michael Thomas is a talented receiver, but he’s out for the 2021 season due to injury and is still weeks away from returning.
Cameron Jordan is a defensive standout, but he’s in his 11th season and has just one sack. Marshon Lattimore is a well-known cornerback, but he has yet to make an interception this season.
The Saints’ superstar is Kamara. He’s showing it not just on the field, but also in terms of name recognition in the NFL and among fans.
According to Spotrac, Kamara has made a total of $20,713,272 million throughout his time with the Saints.
He’s unquestionably worth every cent for New Orleans.
ESPN and Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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